4 posts from January 2014

01/22/2014

Hello everyone!!! My name is Megan Bartkowski, I am a 3rd year student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, and a happy student of the CIEE program at the Insituto Franklin part of the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares! (What a mouthful!)

It’s been two weeks here in Alcalá de Henares, in Spain and although I lived in Madrid city last summer, being a student in Spain is a much different experience. The biggest thing to me is my host family… I have sisters! Their names are Marta and Natalia. Marta is 18 years old and Natalia is 21 years old! They are both gorgeous, super nice, and really fun! I come from a family of two younger brothers so having sisters here is so different!

Here’s a story that can help explain a little more:

The Friday of my first week in Spain, my Spanish sisters asked me if I wanted to go to the taping of a TV show called el Hormiguero. It was the second day I was in their house and they asked me to hang out with them! I was so happy!!! I said, “Yes please!” and we started waiting for Tuesday to come so we could go to the show!

Each night, we watched el Hormiguero during dinner. El Hormiguero means “Ant hill” in English, and there are two puppets that look a little bit like ants. The puppets talk to the host, Carlos, to the special guests (like celebrities, musicians, models, actresses and magicians), and even take part in other prefilmed activities. For example, sometimes the show hosts something similar to The Voice, the X Factor or American Idol where the puppets and a judge go around listening to talented girls, then narrow down to the finalists, and bring them on the show! There’s music, jokes, games, and something similar to crafts!

Finally it was Tuesday, and I prepared my bag with a sandwich and water, my passport (to show I was who I said I was) and dressed in a brightly-colored scarf, so that I could be seen on TV, as Marta and Natalia advised.

Their boyfriends came along, and we all got in the car on our to Madrid. About 40 minutes later, of general excitement, nerves, and laughter, we arrived at the studio!

We waited outside for a bit, then waited inside for a bit, and finally, we got to sit down!!!

Marta, Natalia and I were separated from the boys, and put on the left side facing the stage. We sat down and the show started. There was a guy “directing” the audience – when to laugh, when to “awwwwww” and so on! At one point he walked over to me and asked me if I understood the joke… I must have had a confused look on my face! I told him I was American and he nodded, understanding.

That night there was a famous actress named Natalia Verbeke on the show, and they asked her questions, joked around, and did a magic trick where she floated in the air! Right after that part, I was on TV! Well, for about .5 seconds, in the background. After the show we were able to take pictures with the people from the show, like Pablo! I was also able to take a picture of Natalia Verbeke in her taxi, looking at me! Overall, it was an amazing opportunity to be with my Spanish sisters, be on TV, and experience one part of the Spanish culture.

01/20/2014

With only a week and a half since the program began, It still hasn't completely sunk in that I'm no longer in the Unites States. Although a few things are different, most of the important things are the same (there is food, dogs still don't like cats, everybody watches The Simpsons, etc.). I find the architecture to be the most prevalent reminder that I am, in fact, in Spain.

In Madrid and Alcalá, many buildings which have stood for hundreds of years are still in use or have been repurposed. There was a palace, but somebody built another palace. Rather than be wasteful, it's now a museum. Towards the city centers, buildings are generally placed up against one another, sharing some walls. The size of doors, hallways, and rooms can differ even within the same space. Consisting mostly of stone and often highly ornamental, their exteriors are usually worn but unchanged while the interiors can range from completely rearranged and modernized to little more than an occasional new door. Old and new styles are often mixed. In part of the University of Alcalá, for example, a few new rooms were created by adding panes of glass between stone pillars. There are also many courtyards, a few surrounded by original, ornamented multi-story open-air hallways, although the school of architecture put a roof over theirs to create an enormous hall.

The result is slightly disorienting to one accustomed to life in the U.S., but it only has this effect when it's absolutely everywhere.

On the 9th of January our Spanish families picked us up at the Hotel Campanile. It was an exciting moment, but also a little nerve-racking for all of us. Everyone was ready to go see their home for the next 4 months, start unpacking their suitcases, and eat a home cooked meal, including me. In orientation Cristina told us that every family is different and every family is special and unique in their own ways. I liked this phrase a lot because the students in CIEE know that our homestays are all going to be different but all of them will be valuable and positive in some way.

My Spanish family consists of a dad, Paco, a mom, Tere, and their daughter Teresa. Paco is the owner of a store that sells picture frames and Tere is a stay at home mom. Paco has black, curly hair and wears glasses. He also has a mustache like my dad in the US. He is always happy and very sociable. Tere also has short black hair, is a bit taller than me, and is lovely. She helps me a lot with my Spanish and we spend a lot of time together. She is truly a mother to me and I feel comfortable talking to her. She also cooks delicious food. Teresa is 26 years old and is a sports journalist. She is thin, has black hair with bangs, and is very pretty. She and I like to spend time together shopping, at the gym, or at home. Their house is a 2 story apartment. On the first floor there is a loving room where we watch TV, a kitchen where we eat together, and the family’s bedrooms. On the second floor is my room, Teresa’s workspace, and a balcony. It’s a perfect house for them and for me. All of my family is so kind and patient with me. I could not ask for a better family to take me into their home. I already love them like my American family. Thank you Paco, Tere, and Teresa!

01/14/2014

Students in the ciee Alcalá program of Spring 2014 are here. Not all arrived on the same day unfortunately. The problems with the weather in the U.S. delayed or canceled several flights. The orientation was strange. Two students had not arrived and several suitcases were lost. Although Spring 2014 students were more awake than I imagined.

In the hotel we slept one night, we had a lunch and a dinner. It was fun to begin to know each other.

A Spanish student of Anthropology assisted us for three days.

We ate new dishes, tried some very different dishes to what students are accustomed.

But we also worked hard. We talked about security, University of Alcalá, travel, medical insurance, courses, teachers, families, banks, etc.

Families arrived promptly at the hotel to pick up their new children.

On Friday January 10th we went to Madrid, but Jessica was still missing :(

Classes began on January 13rd at UAH´s Benjamín Franklin Institute and students were able to visit and to meet the professors and instructors.